Avalanche Advisory
| Advisory: Salt Lake Area Mountains | Issued by Evelyn Lees for November 22, 2012 - 6:35am |
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Above 9,500 ft.
8,000-9,500 ft.
Below 8,000 ft.
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bottom line The avalanche danger is MODERATE on any slope steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. These snow drifts will be along ridge lines and in open terrain, most widespread on northerly and easterly facing slopes at the upper elevations. The rest of the terrain has a LOW avalanche danger – carry avalanche gear (beacons, shovels, probes) and travel on steep slopes one at a time.
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current conditions The cold front skipped through town, leaving behind a few snowflakes and cooler temperatures. This morning, under clearing skies, most mountains stations are in the 20s. The winds shifted to the northwest last night, and are currently less than 10 miles per hour at all but a few locations. With typical shallow early season snow coverage, in the 1-3 foot range, careful choices of terrain are recommended for all users to avoid hitting hidden rocks and stumps – think meadows or slopes with a smooth grassy surface beneath the snow,or roads and good trails. |
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recent activity No new avalanches were reported, but there were no backcountry observations from the wind zone up high. |
Avalanche Problem 1over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 9,500 ft.
8,000-9,500 ft.
Below 8,000 ft.
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description
Stubborn wind drifts along the high ridges and down into open bowls can still be triggered today on steep slopes. Wind speeds were strongest from the southwest, and moderate from the west, so the drifts will be most common on northerly and easterly facing slopes. |
Avalanche Problem 2over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 9,500 ft.
8,000-9,500 ft.
Below 8,000 ft.
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description
Most of our backcountry terrain has a Low Avalanche Danger, which doesn’t mean no danger - avalanches are possible in isolated or extreme terrain. |
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weather A series of beautiful, almost spring like days are in store for the mountains, with gradually warming temperatures and light winds today through Saturday. 8,000’ highs today will be near 30, 10,000’ highs in the 20s. The northwesterly winds will remain light, averaging less than 15 mph on all but a few of the highest peaks. Skies will be mostly clear through Saturday, with 10,000’ temperature warming into the mid 30s, and winds gradually shifting back to the west and southwest. A small storm is forecast to clip northern Utah on Sunday, perhaps delivering a few inches of snow. |
| general annoucements If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks. Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033) Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017) Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150) Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8. Twitter Updates for your mobile phone Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening. Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE. UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838 Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/ . Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clicking HERE Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work. Evelyn will update this forecast tomorrow. Thanks for calling. If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks. Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033) Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017) Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150) Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8. Twitter Updates for your mobile phone Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening. Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE. UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838 Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/ . Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clicking HERE Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work. Brett will update this forecast tomorrow. Thanks for calling. |